Centrally-mounted ground-rod driver for utility vehicle

Abstract

A utility vehicle includes a chassis and a centrally-mounted ground-rod driver system. The chassis presents a central area. The centrally-mounted ground-rod driver system is secured to the chassis at the central area. The centrally-mounted ground-rod driver system includes a ground-rod, a driver assembly configured to drive the ground-rod into an underlying surface under the chassis, and a grounding cable associated with the ground-rod so as to allow an electrical discharge through the grounding cable, through the ground-rod, and into the underlying surface. The ground-rod is driven in beneath the central area of the chassis such that a radius of electrified ground of the underlying surface is away from a utility worker.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
       1. A utility vehicle comprising:
 a chassis presenting a central area; and 
 a centrally-mounted ground-rod driver system secured to the chassis at the central area, including—
 a ground-rod; 
 a driver assembly configured to drive the ground-rod into an underlying surface under the chassis; and 
 a grounding cable associated with the ground-rod so as to allow an electrical discharge through the grounding cable, through the ground-rod, and into the underlying surface, 
 
 wherein the ground-rod is driven in beneath the central area of the chassis such that a radius of electrified ground of the underlying surface is away from a utility worker. 
 
     
     
       2. The utility vehicle of  claim 1 
 wherein the central area is disposed at least at a minimum radius from a lateral edge of the utility vehicle, 
 wherein the minimum radius is based upon the radius of electrified ground needed to prevent electrical discharge through a utility worker. 
 
     
     
       3. The utility vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first interlock to ensure that an outrigger system is deployed before allowing the driver assembly to drive the ground-rod. 
 
     
     
       4. The utility vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second interlock to ensure that the ground-rod is emplaced before allowing static operations to begin, 
 a third interlock to ensure that the ground-rod is removed before allowing mobile operations to begin. 
 
     
     
       5. The utility vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 retraction rollers associated with the ground-rod for removing the ground-rod from the underlying surface. 
 
     
     
       6. The utility vehicle of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the chassis includes a deck and a cab, 
 wherein the centrally-mounted ground-rod driver system is secured to the chassis behind the cab. 
 
     
     
       7. The utility vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the centrally-mounted ground-rod driver system is secured to the chassis in front of the deck. 
     
     
       8. The utility vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the driver assembly is powered by a power source selected from the group consisting of pneumatic power, hydraulic power, and electrical power. 
     
     
       9. The utility vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the driver assembly is hydraulic drive hammer. 
     
     
       10. A ground-rod driver system configured to be used with a utility vehicle, the ground-rod driver system comprising:
 a ground-rod; 
 a driver assembly configured to drive the ground-rod into an underlying surface under the chassis; and 
 a grounding cable associated with the ground-rod so as to allow an electrical discharge through the grounding cable, through the ground-rod, and into the underlying surface, 
 wherein the ground-rod is driven in beneath a central area of the chassis such that a radius of electrified ground of the underlying surface is away from a utility worker. 
 
     
     
       11. The ground-rod driver system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first interlock to ensure that an outrigger system is deployed before allowing the driver assembly to drive the ground-rod. 
 
     
     
       12. The ground-rod driver system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a second interlock to ensure that the ground-rod is emplaced before allowing static operations to begin, 
 a third interlock to ensure that the ground-rod is removed before allowing mobile operations to begin. 
 
     
     
       13. The ground-rod driver system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 retraction rollers associated with the ground-rod for removing the ground-rod from the underlying surface. 
 
     
     
       14. The ground-rod driver system of  claim 10 , wherein the driver assembly is hydraulic drive hammer.